The Supreme Court Monday refused to defer the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET)-UG examination, scheduled for September 12, saying it doesn’t need to intervene with the method and it is going to be “very unfair” to reschedule it. A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar mentioned if college students need to seem in a number of exams, then they should prioritise and make a alternative as there might by no means be a scenario the place everyone seems to be happy with the date of exams.
The apex courtroom mentioned nonetheless that the petitioners will probably be at liberty to make a illustration earlier than the competent authorities on the problem and the identical could also be determined on the earliest in accordance with the regulation. “The arguments which you (counsel for petitioners) are canvassing may not be relevant for 99 percent candidates. For one percent candidates, the entire system cannot be put on hold,” the bench, additionally comprising justices Hrishikesh Roy and C T Ravikumar, advised advocate Shoeb Alam who was showing for the petitioners.
When Alam mentioned that round 25,000 college students will probably be showing in both enchancment or compartment examinations for sophistication 12, the bench noticed that solely round one % of candidates go for that. Alam argued that the medical entrance examination NEET-UG 2021 be deferred as many different examinations are scheduled round September 12.
“If you are to appear in multiple examinations, then you need to make choice,” the bench mentioned, including, “You have to prioritise. You must also be conscious that any deferment is likely to clash with some other examination.” The bench mentioned the respective boards will do their job and the courtroom won’t intervene with examinations in such a scenario. It mentioned deferment of exams would possibly have an effect on the subsequent course and the entire thing will probably be extended.
“It will be very unfair to reschedule the examination. NEET is a very large examination. It is not state-wise, it is a nationwide exam,” the bench mentioned. Alam advised the courtroom that round 16 lakh candidates are more likely to seem within the NEET examination. “We should now really redefine our scope of judicial review. Where do we go and to what extent,” the bench noticed, including it doesn’t need scores of scholars to endure in any method as a result of deferment of examination for which they’ve burnt midnight oil and ready.
“The relief claimed in this petition is to quash a public notice of July 13 issued by the competent authority scheduling NEET-UG 2021 examination on September 12. For the reasons canvassed by counsel for the petitioners, we are not impressed nor willing to show any indulgence to the petitioners or to allow them to invoke the remedy under Article 32 of the Constitution,” the bench mentioned. The apex courtroom was listening to a petition searching for deferment of the examination on the bottom that a number of different exams are scheduled throughout the interval.
Last yr, the NEET was carried out on September 13 amid strict precautions in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. A complete of 13.66 lakh candidates had appeared within the examination of whom 7,71,500 certified. In a primary, the NEET-UG examination 2021 will probably be carried out in 13 languages with Punjabi and Malayam being the brand new additions, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had introduced in July. He had additionally mentioned {that a} new examination centre for the NEET has been opened in Kuwait to facilitate the Indian scholar group within the Middle East.
(PTI)